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    Doing The Right Thing
    Doing The Right Thing
    Doing The Right Thing
    Ebook118 pages2 hours

    Doing The Right Thing

    By Michael Hardy

    ()

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    About this ebook

    In Southern California, pastor Mike Hardy and his wife, Debra were worn out with big city life. Christian behavior and neighborliness were disappearing around them. When an old friend asked them to come to Ashland, Virginia to replace their recently deceased pastor, they knew it was a sign from God.

    The small town welcomes them with open arms. And as Mike teaches the townspeople about "Doing The Right Thing," their faith is renewed. This inspirational book reinvigorates the Christian spirit of family and love, all against the backdrop of a small town and a hearty organ.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBookBaby
    Release dateMar 26, 2021
    ISBN9781098359249
    Doing The Right Thing
    Author

    Michael Hardy

    Michael Hardy (or just Hardy to his friends) was born in South East Asia and was raised strongly in his country’s culture. Between the ages of 7-9, his family moved to England and he developed a love for western culture, but it unfortunately left a staggering effect on his previous life in his home country, leaving him very out of place there. Even now, that effect still remains. Around the age of 10-13, a family/friend, Oliver, introduced him into the world of anime with “Vampire Hunter D” on VHS, which to him is a hero that he can relate to and has a big influence on him. He bought that same VHS tape from a friend who stole the tape from Oliver. He didn’t read the book or manga until he was in his mid 20’s, which have also influence him as a writer. By the time he went to college and university, his roommate Mike, who wanted to be a film director at the time, inspired him to write a film script, but Mike lost it when he went back to his home country. Hardy tried to rewrite that same story as a novel, but was tired of writing it again, but it still motivated Hardy to become a writer. Then, in the year 2010, influenced and inspired for his love of Vampire Hunter D, the love and hate for certain vampire flicks, video games, Western and Asian monster folklore, and a friend on YouTube, who is also a writer, he created Kris Hellion, a story that he has thought of since his college and university years. He hopes that people enjoy reading his book and would like to hear what people like or dislike about it. Hardy takes heavy influences from anime, live action films, mangas, super heroes, video games, folklore, and pieces of his life that create his vision of his creation, Kris Hellion.

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      Book preview

      Doing The Right Thing - Michael Hardy

      cover.jpgcover.jpg

      Copyright 2021 by Michael C. Hardy and Debra J. Hardy

      All rights reserved

      This is a work of fiction. Names, Characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales, is entirely coincidental.

      ISBN Print 978-1-0983-5923-2 | ISBN ebook 978-1-09835-924-9

      First Edition

      Printed in the United States

      mcndjhardy@gmail.com

      Contents

      ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

      INTRODUCTION

      Chapter I

      Answering The Call

      Chapter II

      Helping An Angel

      Chapter III

      The Yard Sale

      Chapter IV

      A New Beginning

      Chapter V

      Sunday Service

      Chapter VI

      The Wedding

      Chapter VII

      Our Church Gets A Face Lift

      Chapter VIII

      Mrs. Burns

      Chapter IX

      Fourth of July

      Chapter X

      The Conclusion

      ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

      I would like to dedicate this book, first, to God for giving me the mouth and wisdom to teach His word (Luke 21:14). Secondly, to all the Christians who could use a little comfort and guidance in better understanding the job of a Christian, DOING THE RIGHT THING in everyday life.

      And close to my heart, my very own personal Heaven-sent angel, Mrs. Debra J. Hardy, my beautiful wife of 15 years. I say in all my books that she is not only my Chief Editor and Co-author, but she is also the Author of My Life, for without my wife, I would be nothing.

      Debra, I thank you for choosing me. And I love you more each day we are together. You’re perfect to me! WE GOT THIS.

      Pastor Michael C. Hardy, June 18, 2020

      INTRODUCTION

      Thank you for reading our book. For too many years I have felt that the number of Christians left on the earth today is declining at an alarming rate. I’m very worried that in my lifetime, with churches closing, we can no longer say God in a schoolroom. Soon, the words IN GOD WE TRUST will be wiped off our dollar bills. As Christians we need to fight before government stops us from praying all together! Is this the kind of world you want to live in? The last time things got this out of hand, just ask Noah what happened. If we are being tested by God or by Satan, whose team are you really on? It sickens me to say that today Satan seems to be winning! We need to turn things around, and we can certainly do so. So, are you with me? For God, let’s fight!

      I wrote this book, DOING THE RIGHT THING, to help Christians understand how easy it is in our everyday life to do the right thing in God’s eyes. Let’s make Him proud again. In this book I will use everyday things and people to show you how you might do things differently if God were sitting right next to you. Every day, all the time. You must ask yourself right now, if you could meet your Maker today, would you look Him in the eyes? I pray that by the time you finish reading our book, you will feel comfortable in doing so, with ease! God has always been watching us, so why not make Him proud. It might even get you an express ticket into Heaven when the time comes.

      Enjoy the book. Thank you for reading.

      Chapter I

      Answering The Call

      The summer in Southern California was winding down, my wife and I had lived in Huntington Beach, California for years. It seemed to her and me that the big city life was wearing on both of us. The people were all getting less out of life and spending more money than ever before, all for nothing.

      Years past you were friends with your neighbors. I’ve been a pastor for years now, so I was not a threat to anyone. However even after almost 10 years I have never met my next-door neighbor; kind of strange if you don’t mind me saying.

      We were burned out; nobody had time to hear about God, Jesus, or any part of the Bible. In Southern California you have to work two jobs just to pay the bills, and that’s not for the upper class, but for the average Joe like you and me. It was feeling like a bad movie about the end of the world; everyone seemed miserable, and all you hear are horns going off, tires squealing, and for some reason everyone wants to show off their middle finger to someone. Why? I have two good middle fingers and I never show them off to anyone.

      Debra and I prayed every night and asked God to please step in and guide us on what to do. Finally, one night we got a phone call from an old friend, Brad; he advised me that their pastor had gone off to Heaven this past week and they had no one to step in. Brad said that he had always loved my teaching, DO THE RIGHT THING, God’s watching!

      So, what do you think happened next? That’s right, we put everything up for sale, told the realtor we were moving to Ashland, Virginia, population: 7,840. One week later we arrived in time for church. We were introduced to everyone, and within 10 minutes of smiling faces and warm greetings, I knew we had made the right move.

      A beautiful little town about 60 miles north of Richmond, Virginia, the town reminded me of the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. The local store was not a Walmart, and the owner introduced herself, a sweet older lady, maybe 85. She told my wife and me, Welcome to Ashland, pastor; we own the store across the tracks. She said, Please stop by; my family has run this store since the mid-1800s. And the store did look like it. It was beautiful!

      We were able to buy a cute little 100-year-old house for pocket change compared to the money we shelled out for our house in California; my new Cadillac Escalade cost more than the house. It seemed too surreal to both of us. Even the realtor almost fell over when we said that we would take it, We have the cash!

      On our first night there the only horn I heard was someone from church; just a quick honk, and they showed me all their fingers (not just their middle finger), as they all waved from the car and yelled out, Hello, pastor! It was so refreshing! I guess I will never understand why people in California wave at you with only one finger, but in Ashland they used their whole hand to wave, and with a smile. It seemed that no one was in a hurry, everyone was so polite.

      As we walked through town heading home, my wife held my arm so close; I knew she was happy with the move as well. It was so quiet and beautiful. Because there were no big city lights, we could see a billion stars. We both had never seen a sky like that before. I turned and gave Debra a kiss on top of her head and said, I think we are the closest to Heaven we’ve ever been. She looked up at me with that smile of hers that melts me and said, I think you’re right, pastor. She gently closed her eyes for a moment, then said, Thank you, Lord for answering my prayers, then she held me even tighter. I had to ask her, What was all that about? She just giggled like a schoolgirl and said, Never you mind young man, that’s between God and me. We both laughed for a moment, then walked down the street arm in arm like two teenagers hoping this night would never end. All the way home I don’t remember my feet ever touching the ground. How could one man have such a perfect life and a perfect wife? She was adorable as always. Thank you, Lord, indeed!

      It was a magical evening with the perfect person, I love you, Debra. My wife has always found a way to make something great even better.

      I woke up early the next morning and went for a morning run. I love running, nothing better than music in my ears as my feet pound the black top. I will run two to four miles each morning, weather permitting. I was 57 years old with Type II diabetes. This disease is bad for your heart and your legs, but it can be reversed with a proper diet and exercise. I took the doctors’ advice very seriously; my lovely wife keeps me on track with my diet and I work out like a young man of maybe 27. Everyone should try to exercise as often as they can. Running has been credited for releasing endorphins in your body, and also increasing oxygen to your brain. Believe it or not, tests have shown that people who run are smarter than people who just sit on the couch. Plus, my wife still smiles when she looks at my old body!

      After my morning run, I jumped in the shower, had a wonderful breakfast with Debra, and then we were off to town to buy some things for the church. The church was built in the 1860s, it is very impressive in size and style, it must have been a mansion in its time. It’s also been used as the local dance hall after the 4th of July parades. I find myself daydreaming of being the pastor and hosting the July 4th dance, with the whole town coming out. There was a large picture in the church hallway of this dance before there were even cars. It is my favorite picture. I’ve had a few people at Sunday service point out a couple of people in this picture as family members (grandparents). WOW! Both Debra and I thought that was cool.

      As you can imagine with a church that is over 150 years old, it was ready for some help /TLC. I was impressed by the number of people who showed

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